V511

I second Katanita's post. That isn't any Peckham I recognise and is a poor reflection of the ethnic diversity in the community.

Thanks Roundabout, will have a look.

Hello all, Does anyone know who owns 11-15 Melbourne Grove (what used to be the My Big Fat Greek restaurant)? Looking for some potential office space and want to see if it's available. Thanks for any help, Simon.

Looking at the office designs, it could be that they are planning live/work units for the 1st & 2nd floors, as the layouts are peculiar and inefficient for straightforward offices. Notice the size of some of the kitchens for example.

Can you clarify those percentages, BrandNewGuy? or do you have the link/source? Just as they add up to 113%... ;)

Southwark recently announced a new cycling strategy and they want to develop the 'Southwark Spine cycle route' which will use Crystal Palace Road/Adys Road: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/3976/southwarks_cycling_strategy pg. 41/42 of the PDF. So there may well be an increase in the number of cycle journeys in the area, which could make an additional cycle shop viable.

Thanks Penguin68, I came up with a similar approximate calculation too. You could be right in thinking the strike action revealed to PH that they might be able to run the place with fewer staff anyway.

The aspect I find most surprising about this is that the Ritzy employed 93 people. I have no reference to go on but that feels overstaffed - Anyone with experience of working in a cinema who could comment as to how many staff are required? I agree pretty much with Penguin68's last couple of posts. Increasing wages would lead to reduced or no profits if nothing else changed. Redundancies are therefore one of a variety of legitimate options they could've used. Hopefully most of those affected can get positions in the ED branch.

There's been a design trend for those raised brick junctions but they almost invariably start breaking up very quickly. I go over two in Brixton - near the Ritzy and turning off Effra Road toward Herne Hill - and they've gone quickly. They're just not designed for high frequency traffic. But good lord, that junction is a danger to cross for pedestrians. Maybe a zebra crossing?

I think you're probably right, Worldwiser. They could get another 2-3 flats if they extended out onto the terrace spaces. Though there could be rights of light issues if they do. We'll see I'm sure!

This affects me in the most direct way. The company I work for occupy the top floor office that is going to be changed into flats. Our lease runs out in Feb 2015, so our company of about 15 staff will have to relocate out of East Dulwich most probably. What I find surprising in this change of use is that ED has a great lack of office space, and Southwark didn't seem to take that in to account in their decision. ( Application here: http://planningonline.southwark.gov.uk/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=9553864 ) As for the actual development, the architect's design cleverly doesn't alter anything externally. No windows are changed. One issue that isn't clear from the design is the terrace spaces. If they are to be used by the flats - and I can't imagine the developer not wanting that - then overlooking would be a concern for the adjoining properties. Fences could installed which would allievate the problem, but yes Worldwiser, I am a little surprised by the lack of local consultation. As for parking, It's possible that they calculated the change of use would reduce the number of vehicles. Because the office spaces could accommodate maybe 40-50 people, as opposed to maybe 15-20 residents, then the number of cars might be lower. That's the theory. In reality, we've been here 6 years and only one of us occasionally drives. And the other office has been vacant for about 5 years. Anyway, we'll be sad to go. The management were very happy to be based here.

I saw the accident and it was just that - an accident. Luckily, the driver was not going particularly fast and managed to scrub off some speed by braking. Horrible thing to see the little girls face as she was hit :( The mother was actually more traumaatised by it then the girl, who seemed physically ok thankfully. I hope no long term damage physical or psychological was done to all involved.

Following on from what Applespider and James Barber say - Roads were built and maintained out of general public finances for years before cars came along. They are for public movement, which over the years happens to have become dominated by motorised vehicles. As James Barber correctly points out, public taxation doesn't work on the basis of a direct correlation between taxation and usage otherwise every tax payer would be claiming refunds for 101 different things they don't use.

Marmora Man, There are very few apps for the iPad that will convert handwriting to text. I've found a grand total of two in my research! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-writing-tool-7notes/id455625507?mt=8 and https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/writepad-for-ipad/id363618389?mt=8 Hope that helps. Simon.

Maxxi & Huguenot I didn't know the phrase 'Best wishes to you' had other connotations. I genuinely meant it. Simon.

Huguenot I disagree. Saying that 'You'd have to be pretty bloody thick', that I can 'whimsy' at a neighbourhood meeting, that I can 'bleat about your right to be apathetic' and that I am 'wheedling some tiresome childish toss' suggests a general tone of personal insult rather than a simple critique of my argument. You disagree and fair enough. As you say, you're having fun and using grandstanding, bellicose language. You didn't have to though. You could have engaged in a different way. But that's your choice. Our different approaches don't seem very compatible so we might as well leave it there. Best wishes to you. Simon.

Huguenot - Its not about my supposed pomposity, but the fact I don't know you, have had no engagement with you before on this forum and the first opportunity you get, you attack me and not my argument, in a childish disrespectful way. I love banter and teasing but I think a rapport has to be built up between people before its used. You dove straight in. I didn't criticise anyone else personally, just offered a critique of their arguments, as I expect people will of mine, and that's what I want, so that knowledge and understanding can develop. Please leave me out of your personal insults. Simon.

Huguenot - Gosh crikey - the tired ramblings of someone didn't read my posts. I didn't say I was apathetic. I voted and always do. I didn't mention anything about formal local politics. I made no statements about its effectiveness. Both deliberately so. So 'ner ner ner' to you you silly little man child. Engage in a debate like a adult. Its arrogant to presume that everyone who votes as significantly versed in the history and values of a candidate and their party and that therefore they shouldn't be surprised what happens. Imagine an 18year old first time voter who wasn't that interested in politics, didn't know much about it but thought he would vote. Why assume everyone has a certain level of political knowledge, history and understanding? Simon

Applespider - I understand your point, but I think too much emphasis and value is placed on elections as an expression of the peoples will and/or as an expression of peoples involvement in politics. For example, the recent Coalition changes to the NHS in the form that developed, were not part of the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats manifestos. Those that were against the change, who might have included people who did not vote, had to engage political in every way but voting. They had to write to their MP, sign petitions, join groups etc. The people who you say are criticising without voting may well be engaged in different ways. For me there is no correct level, threshold or type of political engagement and I don't believe one could be set. I personally wish that people were more involved, however that is manifested, but I defend their decision to criticise without actively seeking to affect change, because I view simple dissent as not non-action but on the contrary, as a political act. On the general issue of disengagement/disillusionment which Uncleglen also raises, there are a myriad of reasons why this is, such as the voting system which limits and reduces the range of views, the structures of governance which result in a binary conflict of 'whose got the ball of power today', the rationality of the dominant economic system which reduces the range of political action down to the 'narcissism of small differences', the media for having contorted itself into a false world view of 'balance' which in reality just reflects the narrow discourse of the political elites, rather than the fuller picture of what is going on. Also, some of the changes that people may want are practically very difficult, because they could be fighting against the historical and politically developments of many decades and centuries. Capitalism for example was a massive change in society that occurred over the last 300 years or so. Its not going anywhere fast. At best, all that can be changed in the present is a slight tweaking and a re-regulation, which might be sufficient for some, but disengaging for those want more fundamental change. In light of this and various others, it doesn't surprise me that people feel disengaged. However, where I do make a critique of people, is that it is not the responsibility of political society to engage them, to motivate them. It is for the individual to motivate themselves, to question, to challenge, to educate and inform themselves and apply that if they want to. Simon.

For the record I voted and always do, but the number of people who get enraged by people not voting alarms me. I'm not convinced they've thought their argument through: 1) To suggest that because people are dying in pro-democracy struggles we should all go out and vote, is a false correlation that is ill judged and deliberately emotive. By implying that we must all vote, you are denying us the one key aspect that those people are fighting for; the freedom to chose. If I am not free to chose whether to vote at all, I am not in a democracy. 2) In the UK electoral system, whether the turnout is 10% or 90%, one of those candidates will be elected. Whether I vote or not will not change that. 3) If those candidates are all abhorrent to me, my only option is to spoil the ballot, which officially means nothing. It is counted, but how is that spoiled ballot interpreted? It isn't. 4) If I didn't support this particular electoral system or democracy as the political system, and none of the candidates supported a change along those lines, how can I express that view and have it registered? I can't. 5) To suggest that If I don't vote I therefore have no right to complain about what happens really should be turned the other way round. The people who do vote have no right to complain as they are the ones who elected these candidates into power. 6) This argument also presupposes that voting is the only valid form of political participation, which it isn't. Engaging with political representatives directly, working with public and private non-governmental organisations, joining political parties, trade unions, associations etc are the vast bulk of where formal politics happens. Voting is an incredibly blunt and reductive instrument of being forced to choose from a pre-selected set of candidates, that is a momentary part of political society. Politics is happening in many ways, levels and intensities on a daily basis and to think that an election is the key decisive moment is false. Simon.

I went and saw it last night. It was a little rainy and misty but that actually made it more impressive. I took some photos here: http://goo.gl/1BTxr

Thanks Cassius! Simon

Hello, Does anybody know if Sydenham Hill Woods/Dulwich Woods is locked in the evenings? If so, what time? I've checked Southwark Council's website but they don't mention anything. thanks, Simon.

The local councillor Alex Feakes, just today posted that Pizza Express had an appeal turned down regarding them using the Old Bank site http://goo.gl/4ZYz5 So it is a site of interest, but not sure where the Waitrose talk is coming from...other than the usual ED Waitrose fetishism ;-) Simon EDIT: I clearly can't read - it's Dominoes Pizza, not Pizza Express.

I had a parking ticket outside Black Cherry about 6 months ago. Last three digits on my car reg are 791, but the ticket said 971. I never paid the ticket and have never received any fines or documents from Southwark Council. If the registration number is wrong on the ticket, the ticket is definitely invalid, because for the issuing authority to correct their records after the ticket is issued would basically constitute forging legal documents. Keep the ticket just in case and if they did try and follow-up, have a lot of fun seeing how they try and explain illegal forging of documents.